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The Kosciusko County Board of Zoning Appeals approved multiple petitions and continued several during a meeting on Tuesday.
Two petitions for variances allowing a carport to remain 4.2 feet from the road's right-of-way and for a shed and pergola to remain as placed 3-1/2 feet from the road right-of-way were presented by Kim and Deborah Endicott. The petitions for property located at 4324 E. Defreese Road, Syracuse, were approved. These petitions were continued from the board's July meeting to give the Endicotts additional time to see if they could resolve the issues. Kim told the board the carport would be moved over 14 feet from the roadway and that the shed and pergola would be flush with his residence.
An additional petition continued from July for property at 5937 E. Pickwick Road, Syracuse, was also approved. At that time, the petition, requested by Jerry Miller, was for the construction of an oversized accessory building. During their July meeting, the board expressed concerns with the proposed structure's size. Elmer Miller attended the meeting on Jerry's behalf and said the new proposal involved a smaller structure.
Karl Hochstetler attended the meeting to present a petition for a variance to allow a second residence on a tract of ground at 12477 N. CR 950W, Nappanee. Hochstetler told the board he plans to keep the current structure for storage and build a new structure on the property as a residence. The board approved Hochstetler's petition with the condition that the existing structure serve as storage only and that Hochstetler get the property in compliance with the county's flood control ordinance.
A petition for a variance allowing the construction of a new residence 5 feet from each directional right-of-way for property at 3 EMS B671G Lane, Warsaw, was approved. The petition was requested by John Labriola and presented by local attorney Steve Snyder, who said the new structure was due to a fire that occurred in March. BZA Member Dan Richard commented on the area itself being "congested," but the petition was approved by all board members.
Snyder also presented a petition for Vista Del Mar, which owns property at 5973 E. Island Ave., Syracuse. The petition was in regard to permitting the construction of a covered patio with a deck above 25 feet from the water's edge. The BZA approved granting a variance for the covered patio but said the deck needed to meet their proposed stipulations.
Two separate petitions for property at 6750 W. CR 900S, Claypool, were also approved. Representatives for YCL Ministries requested a petition for an exception to allow multiple additions and expansions to existing buildings and an addition of a new restroom building at their campground on Yellow Creek Lake. Michelle Frazier, who owns a cabin at that location, requested a petition for a variance allowing a deck to be replaced. Frazier said she purchased the cabin about three years ago and that the current deck is in poor condition.
Sean Allard attended the meeting to present two petitions on behalf of his wife, Susan. The petitions related to allowing a shed to remain as placed on a tract without a residence and as placed seven feet from the right-of-way at 35 EMS B57 Lane, Pierceton. Plan Commission Director Matt Sandy said the issue stemmed from court litigation that ruled the area in question was a common area. Sean told the board the shed was for items used in common by nearby property owners, such as floats, rakes, and a wheelbarrow. The BZA approved the petitions with the understanding the structure is not privately owned and that if the shed is ever replaced, it must meet required setbacks.
The board also approved the following additional petitions:
• A petition from Jason Fuller for the construction of an oversized accessory building in a residential district on the west side of Dove Lane and west of CR 150E, Milford.
• A petition from Charles and Kim Plumer for allowing a residence to remain as constructed at 201 EMS B1 Lane, Pierceton.
• A petition from Ryan MacLagan to allow a residence and deck to remain as constructed at 6735 E. South Barbee Drive, Pierceton.
• A petition from Michael Hall for the construction of a new residence at 55 EMS B48 Lane, Warsaw.
• Two petitions from Elizabeth James for allowing the construction of residential additions and for allowing them to be 3.3 feet to the closest point of the overhang on the east side line at 8196 E. Highland View Drive, Syracuse.
Continuances
Several cases listed on the BZA's agenda were also continued.
At the board's July meeting, Karl Stutzman presented a petition for an exception to allow a home-based business, specifically for wood coating, at a location on the south side of CR 1000N and 1,570 feet north of CR 950N, Nappanee. Stutzman was not present at the August BZA meeting and Sandy said Stutzman hadn't contacted him or the county's health department.
Two petitions for appeals based on Sandy's decisions for properties owned by Blake Arbogast, 11717 N. Ogden Point Road, Syracuse; and Lisa Roberts, 56 EMS C27C1 Lane, Warsaw, were also continued. Both petitions are in regard to air conditioning units.
A petition for Joe and Kari Ragin for allowing a shed to remain on a tract without a residence on the west side of EMS B49 Lane, southwest of CR 700E, Warsaw, was also continued. The Ragins did not attend the meeting.
The board also continued a petition for Robert Hamilton to allow service work on vehicles and to allow up to 30 vehicles onsite at one time in a commercial district at 867 S. 325E, Warsaw.
The BZA's next meeting is at 9 a.m. Sept. 8.
